Hypertext Essay

Wordplay; by definition it means clever or subtle repartee, a verbal wit. Authors may use this literary device for many different reasons. I for one believe that authors use wordplay to expand upon a relatively simple idea, to entertain the readers in a sort of playful way, and to put their understanding of literature to the ultimate test.

One of the reasons that authors use wordplay is to expand upon a relatively simple idea. Take the tea party scene in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This part of the story has a relatively premise; Alice walks into the house of the March Hare were he, the Door Mouse, and the Mad Hatter are having a tea party. What makes this scene so famous is its abundant use of wordplay. There are literally about 50 different times that a form of wordplay is used in this chapter, even the characters themselves are forms of wordplay. The Character of the Dormouse is in itself a pun. The French word for sleep is Dormir, Domir sounds very similar to door, and the dormouse is continuously falling asleep throughout the chapter. It’s the little nuances such as this that are one of the many reasons why authors use wordplay.
Another reason why authors use wordplay is to entertain readers in sort of a playful way, (that’s a pun). Wordplay can bring out different sets of emotions depending on what form of wordplay is used, whether it be groaners or head scratchers wordplay is definitely there for the readers enjoyment. Take Shakespeare’s Macbeth. For the first 5 scenes the opening lines are questions. This is an example of repetition; although hardly noticeable it still gives the reader a sense of rhythm when changing from scene to scene. The final reason why I think that authors use wordplay is to put their understanding of literature to the ultimate test. In order to use wordplay effectively the author must have a complete understanding of what is going on in the story, and have to find away to put in dialogue that fits with the story, and is witty at the same time. In the story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll Uses an abundance of wordplay that both makes sense with the story, and has a witty charm to it, like the scene with the Caucus-race. It is funny to see the animals talk to Alice in a strange sort of way, yet every thing works as if the text was written for the general audience. Obviously, Carroll’s understanding of literature is above that of the average author.


Authors throughout history have used wordplay. I believe that authors user wordplay to Expand upon a relatively simple idea, to entertain the readers in a playful way, and to put their understanding of literature to the ultimate test.